Agenda item

To consider the report.

KEY DECISION

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

a.    Noted the new approach to whole Council transformation.

b.    Approved the launch of the Voluntary Redundancy (VR) scheme, and the 45-day consultation period on 9 February 2024, as part of the Workforce Reduction programme.

c.     Noted that the delivery of the VR scheme will be dependent on the current financial strategy.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Transformation and Human Resources, Cllr Theo Butt Philip, to introduce the report.

The Lead Member for Transformation and Human Resources, Cllr Theo Butt Philip, introduced the report highlighting: that Somerset Council faces a challenging financial situation, marked by increased service delivery costs outpacing income growth; that the Council needs a clear and robust plan to support long-term financial stability, and as part of this plan, the pace and scale of current local government reorganisation transition and transformation would need to be rapidly accelerated to deliver a radically different model and way of working; the focus on the Workforce Reduction Programme, due to this being an early enabler of organisational redesign; and that organisational design and innovation, and Partnerships and devolution, along with the original vision of the LGR strategy, will shape what a good Council looks like. 

The Executive Director Strategy, Workforce and Localities, Alyn Jones, further added to the above points, highlighting: that the report sets out the approach to redesign the Somerset Council moving forward, the need to consider a smaller, leaner, and more agile Council; that as an organisation the first key step is through a voluntary redundancy programme; the awareness of the approach to transformation, noting the structure of the programme and to seek support for the initial phase of workforce reduction, as an enabler for wider whole Council transformation and innovation and to support long term financial sustainability; that as part of the workforce reduction programme the Council will strive to mitigate compulsory redundancies, with the Council actively pursuing lines of enquiry including removal of budgeted vacancies, reduction of agencies interims and consultants, voluntary reduction of contract hours and review of fixed term contracts.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: the impact of voluntary redundancy, including: the financial cost; the lost of knowledge, skills and experience; the health and wellbeing of staff; the support for staff and the effect on the organisation culture; the management of risk; lessons learned locally, nationally and the planned robust programme management and clear accountabilities; mitigations for unintended consequences of constraints of Local Government transformation; change management and the development of organisational values; the impact on apprentices and the Council’s apprentice scheme, including the impact on and wellbeing of apprentices;; devolution and partnership working; the capacity of staff and risk associated with the pace of work;  andmaximising the opportunities a Unitary Council for Somerset

The Executive proceeded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.????

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:???

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive: 

a.     Noted the new approach to whole Council transformation. 

b.     Approved the launch of the Voluntary Redundancy (VR) scheme, and the 45-day consultation period on 9 February 2024, as part of the Workforce Reduction programme. 

c.     Noted that the delivery of the VR scheme will be dependent on the current financial strategy. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report.???

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report.?